US9216325B2 - Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs - Google Patents

Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US9216325B2
US9216325B2 US13/828,697 US201313828697A US9216325B2 US 9216325 B2 US9216325 B2 US 9216325B2 US 201313828697 A US201313828697 A US 201313828697A US 9216325 B2 US9216325 B2 US 9216325B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
shaft
member
internal
club
lumen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US13/828,697
Other versions
US20140274447A1 (en
Inventor
Gil Vald'Via
Frank Gunshinan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Original Assignee
Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Karsten Manufacturing Corp filed Critical Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority to US13/828,697 priority Critical patent/US9216325B2/en
Assigned to KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION reassignment KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GUNSHINAN, FRANK, VALD'VIA, GIL
Publication of US20140274447A1 publication Critical patent/US20140274447A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9216325B2 publication Critical patent/US9216325B2/en
Application status is Active legal-status Critical
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses
    • F16L55/11—Plugs
    • F16L55/1141—Plugs the plug being made of elastic material
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
    • Y10T29/49885—Assembling or joining with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

Embodiments of shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs with shaft plugs are generally described herein. Other embodiments of shaft plugs may be described and claimed.

Description

FIELD

The present document generally relates to golf clubs, and in particular to shaft plugs for sealing off a lumen of a club shaft during the manufacture of the golf club.

BACKGROUND

In the manufacture of a golf club, the club shaft may be secured within the hosel of a club head using an epoxy applied into the hosel using a metal rod. The tip of the club shaft may then be rolled over the epoxy by hand before assembly of the golf club. During assembly, the tip of the club shaft with the coated epoxy may be inserted into a hosel sleeve to secure the tip of the club shaft to the hosel of the club head. In particular, the hosel sleeve may be inserted into the hosel of the club head such that the epoxy fills a predetermined gap therein to create a secure attachment between the tip of the club shaft and the club head through the hosel sleeve. During this attachment process, any excess epoxy from the club shaft can flow into the shaft lumen formed at the tip the club shaft, thereby requiring the epoxy to be removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a golf club;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the golf club showing a shaft plug engaged to a club shaft secured within a hosel sleeve of the golf club;

FIG. 3 is another view of the club shaft, shaft plug and hosel sleeve of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of a first embodiment of the shaft plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the shaft plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft plug taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shaft plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the shaft plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an elevated perspective view of a second embodiment of a shaft plug;

FIG. 10 is an elevated perspective view of a third embodiment of a shaft plug;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a first embodiment for a first internal member of a shaft plug showing a single cut-away configuration;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a second embodiment for a first internal member of the shaft plug showing a multiple cut-away configuration;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the first embodiment for a first internal member showing a single cut away configuration in a deformed condition;

FIG. 14 is a top plan of the second embodiment for a first internal member showing a multiple cut away configuration in a deformed condition;

FIG. 15 is top plan view of a third embodiment for a first internal member of the shaft plug showing a single slit configuration;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment for a first internal member of the shaft plug showing a multiple slit configuration;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the third embodiment for a first internal member showing the single slit configuration in a deformed condition;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the fourth embodiment for the first internal member of the shaft plug showing the multiple slit configuration in a deformed condition;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a shaft plug; and

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating one method of manufacturing a golf club with a shaft plug.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures do not limit the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION

Golf clubs and methods of manufacturing a golf club using a shaft plug that seals off a shaft lumen of a club shaft during manufacture of the golf club are described herein. Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of a golf club is illustrated and generally indicated as 100 in FIGS. 1-20. As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the golf club 100 may include a club shaft 102 having an inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that defines a shaft lumen 104 along a longitudinal axis 700 of the club shaft 102 in which the shaft lumen 104 may extend substantially the length of the club shaft 102. The club shaft 102 defines a distal portion 125 with an outer surface 133 configured to be engaged within a hosel sleeve 106 for securing the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 to a club head 109. The club shaft 102 may also define a proximal portion 127 configured to be engaged to a grip 107 used for gripping the club shaft 102 by an individual. As further shown, the shaft lumen 104 may communicate with a lumen opening 108 formed at the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102, which is configured to engage a shaft plug 101.

During the manufacture of the golf club 100 the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 is secured within the club head 109. In some embodiments, the club head 109 may be a driver-type club, a wood-type club, a hybrid-type club, or an iron-type club that defines a hosel 111, a back 113, a toe 115, a face 119, and a sole 121. As further shown in FIG. 1, the hosel 111 may define an interior space 129 configured to receive therein the hosel sleeve 106 for engaging the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 to the hosel 111 of the club head 109 using an epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in one embodiment the hosel sleeve 106 defines a sleeve recess 110 in communication with an opening 131 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and is configured to receive therein the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102. A shaft plug 101 may be inserted into the shaft lumen 104 to seal off the lumen opening 108 such that the epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that coats the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 does not enter the shaft lumen 104 during assembly of the golf club 100.

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, the shaft plug 101 forms a shaft plug body 112 configured to seal off the shaft lumen 104 when engaged therein. As shown in FIG. 4, the shaft plug body 112 may include an axial shaft member 114 defining a distal end 124 and a proximal end 126 with a sealing member 116 formed at the distal end 124 of the axial shaft member 114 that extends outwardly from the axial shaft member 114 at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to longitudinal axis 702 defined by the axial shaft member 114. In some embodiments, the shaft plug body 112 includes a plurality of internal members (generally indicated as 117 in FIGS. 4-7) formed between the sealing member 116 and the proximal end 126 of the axial shaft member 114. In one embodiment the plurality of internal members 117 may include a first internal member 118, a second internal member 120, and a third internal member 122 that outwardly extend from the axial shaft member 114 at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to longitudinal axis 702 defined by the axial shaft member 114. While the above examples may describe a particular number of internal members 117, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 7, the sealing member 116 and the plurality of internal members 117 have substantially circular or concentric configurations. While the figures may depict the plurality of internal members 117 having the same or similar configuration, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. In particular, two or more of the plurality of internal members 117 may have different configurations. For example, the first internal member 118 may have a circular configuration whereas the second and/or third internal members 120 and 122, respectively, may have a hexagonal, octagonal, or other polygonal configuration(s). In some embodiments, the sealing member 116 has a diameter greater than the respective diameters of the first, second and third internal members 118, 120 and 122 and is configured to block, plug, and/or otherwise seal off the lumen opening 108 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the club shaft 102 when the shaft plug 101 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 2 and 3). In some embodiments, the respective diameters of the sealing member 116 and the first, second and third internal members 118, 120 grow progressively smaller from the sealing member 116 to the third internal sealing member 122 as illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the sealing member 116 and the first internal member 118 are configured to seal off the shaft lumen 104 and prevent the egress of epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3) into the shaft lumen 104. In some embodiments, the first, second and third internal members 118, 120 and 122 may be configured to maintain substantial contact with the interior surface of the shaft lumen 104 to establish respective fluid tight barriers that prevent the fluid flow of epoxy 123 through the shaft lumen 104.

In one embodiment, the sealing member 116 may have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the lumen opening 108 for sealing off the lumen opening 108 to fluid flow communication. When the shaft plug 101 is engaged to the shaft lumen 104 through the lumen opening 108, a second flat surface 130 (FIGS. 5 and 6) defined by the sealing member 116 comes into contact with the outer surface 133 of the club shaft 102 proximate the lumen opening 108, thereby sealing off the shaft lumen 104 and preventing any epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3) from entering therein.

Referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the shaft plug, designated 201, may form a shaft plug body 212 having substantially the same configuration as shaft plug 101 with the exception that one or more of the internal members 217 may define a deformation that allows one or more of the plurality of internal members 217 to deform and establish substantial contact with the surface of the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 1-3) when the shaft plug 201 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104. For example, in one embodiment the first internal member 218 may define a deformation that allows the first internal member 218 to deform and establish substantial contact with the surface of the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 1-3) when the shaft plug 201 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104. In this particular embodiment, the shaft plug 201 includes an axial shaft member 214 defining a distal end 224 and a proximal end 226 with a sealing member 216 formed at the distal end 224 of the axial shaft member 214 that is configured to seal off the lumen opening 108 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104. In some embodiments, the shaft plug body 212 may further include a plurality of internal members 317, for example, a first internal member 218, a second internal member 220, and a third internal member 222, which extend outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle along the axial shaft member 214 relative to longitudinal axis 704 defined by the axial shaft member 214. As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft plug 201 differs from shaft plug 101 in that at least one of the plurality of internal members 217, for example the first internal member 218, has a deformable cut-away 228 that extends from the axial shaft member 214 to the periphery of the first internal member 218. Referring to FIG. 13, for example, the deformable cut-away 228 facilitates deformation of the respective internal member 217 when the shaft plug 201 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104 such that the respective internal member 217 has a diameter sufficient to allow the internal member 217 to bend, fold and/or otherwise deform to establish substantial contact between the periphery of the respective internal member 217 and the inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104. This engagement creates a substantially fluid tight barrier that prevents any epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3) from flowing or migrating through the shaft lumen 104.

Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 12, one or more of the plurality of internal members 217 may define a plurality of deformable cut-aways 228 that extends from the axial shaft member 214 to the periphery of the respective internal member 217. As shown in FIG. 14, the plurality of cut-aways 228 also facilitates deformation of the respective internal member 217 when the shaft plug 201 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 1-3) such that the respective internal member 217 has a diameter sufficient to allow the respective internal member 217 to bend, fold and/or otherwise deform to establish substantial contact between the periphery of the respective internal member 217 and the inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104. This engagement establishes a substantially fluid tight barrier that prevents any epoxy (FIGS. 2 and 3) from flowing or migrating through the shaft lumen 104.

Referring to FIG. 10, a third embodiment of the shaft plug, designated 301, may form a shaft plug body 312 having substantially the same configuration as shaft plug 101 with the exception that one or more of the plurality of internal members 317, for example the first internal member 318, may define a different type of deformation that also allows the first internal member 318 to deform and establish substantial contact with the surface of the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 1-3). As shown, in some embodiments the shaft plug 301 may include an axial shaft member 314 defining a distal end 324 and a proximal end 326 with a sealing member 316 formed at the distal end 324 of the axial shaft member 314 that is configured to seal off the lumen opening 108 of the shaft lumen 104. The shaft plug body 312 further includes a plurality of internal members 317, for example, a first internal member 318, a second internal member 320, and a third internal member 322, which extend outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle along the axial shaft member 314 relative to the longitudinal axis 706 defined by the axial shaft member 314. As shown in FIG. 15, the shaft plug 301 differs from shaft plug 101 in that one or more of the plurality of internal members 317 has a deformable slit 328 that extends from the axial shaft member 314 to the periphery of the respective internal member 317. Referring to FIG. 17, the deformable slit 328 facilitates deformation of the respective internal member 317 when the shaft plug 301 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104 such that the respective internal member 317 has a diameter sufficient to allow the respective internal member 317 to bend, fold and/or otherwise deform in order to establish substantial contact between the periphery of the respective internal member 317 and the inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104. This engagement creates a substantially fluid tight barrier within the shaft lumen 104 that prevents any epoxy 123 (FIGS. 2 and 3) from flowing or migrating through the shaft lumen 104.

Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 16, one or more of the internal members 317 may define a plurality of deformable slits 328 that extend from the axial shaft member 314 to the periphery of the respective internal member 317. As shown in FIG. 18, the plurality of slits 328 also facilitates deformation of the respective internal member 317 when the shaft plug 301 is inserted into the shaft lumen 104 such that the respective internal member 317 has a diameter sufficient to allow the respective internal member 317 to bend, fold and/or otherwise deform to establish substantial contact between the periphery of the respective internal member 317 and the inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104. This engagement establishes a substantially fluid tight barrier that prevents any epoxy (FIGS. 2 and 3) from flowing or migrating through the shaft lumen 104.

Referring to FIG. 19, a fourth embodiment of the shaft plug, designated 401, may form a shaft plug body 412 having substantially the same configuration as shaft plug 101 with the exception that the shaft plug 401 defines only one internal member rather than a plurality of internal members as embodied by shaft plugs 101, 201 and 301. As shown, the shaft plug 401 includes an axial shaft member 414 defining a distal end 424 and a proximal end 426 with a sealing member 416 formed at the distal end 424 of the axial shaft member 414. The shaft plug 401 further includes an internal member 418, which extends outwardly in perpendicular fashion along the axial shaft member 414 relative to the longitudinal axis 708 defined by the axial shaft member 414. The sealing member 416 is configured to seal off the lumen opening 108 (FIGS. 1-3) of the shaft lumen 104 (FIGS. 1-3) when the shaft plug 401 is engaged within the shaft lumen 104. In some embodiments, the internal member 418 has a generally circular configuration with a diameter substantially similar or slighter larger than the diameter of the shaft lumen 414 such that the periphery of the internal member 418 substantially contacts the inner surface 135 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the shaft lumen 104 to establish a substantially fluid tight seal within the shaft lumen 104 that prevents fluid flow communication through the shaft lumen 104 when the shaft plug 401 is engaged to the shaft lumen 104.

Referring back to FIG. 6, some embodiments of the shaft plug 101 may be manufactured using the following dimensions for the shaft plug body 112. In some embodiments, the sealing member 116 may have a height 822 of about 0.050 inches as defined between the first and second flat surfaces 128 and 130 and a diameter 800 of about 0.320 inches. The first internal member 118 may be located at a length 820 of about 0.160 inches as defined between the first flat surface 128 and the third flat surface 132 and have a diameter 802 of about 0.280 inches. The second internal member 120 may be located at a length 818 of about 0.280 inches as defined between the first flat surface 128 and the fourth flat surface 136 and have a diameter 804 of about 0.230 inches. The third internal member 122 may be located at a length 816 of about 0.370 inches as defined between the first flat surface 128 and the fifth flat surface 140 and have a diameter 806 of about 0.180 inches. Finally, the axial shaft member 114 may have a length 814 of about 0.510 inches and a diameter 808 of about 0.070 inches.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the first, second and third internal members 118, 120, and 122 of shaft plug 101 may be manufactured using the following angular values. The first internal member 118 may define a first tapered surface 134 extending from the axial shaft member 114 at an angle 600 of about a 10.8 degrees between planes 500 and 506, while the second internal member 120 may define a second tapered surface 138 extending from the axial shaft member 114 at an angle 602 of about a 14.0 degrees between planes 502 and 508. Finally, the third internal member 122 may define an third tapered surface 142 extending from the axial shaft member 114 at an angle 604 of about a 20.0 degrees between planes 504 and 510.

Referring to FIG. 20, one method for manufacturing the golf club 100 is illustrated. At block 1500, forming a golf club 101 having a club shaft 102 and club head 109, wherein the club head 109 includes a hosel 111 defining an interior space 129 configured to engage the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 to the hosel 111 of the club head 109. At block 1502, forming a shaft plug 101 having a shaft plug body 112 with an axial shaft member 114 defining a distal end 124 and a proximal end 126, wherein a sealing member 116 is formed the distal end 124 and a plurality of internal members 117 extend outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle from the axial shaft member 114 between the sealing member 116 and the proximal end 126 of the axial shaft member 114. At block 1504, inserting the shaft plug 101 into the shaft lumen 104 through the lumen opening 108 defined at the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 such that the inner surface 130 of the sealing member 116 is in direct communication with the outer surface 133 of the club shaft 102 proximate the lumen opening 108 and one or more of the plurality of internal members 117 becomes deformed within the shaft lumen 104, thereby sealing off the lumen opening 108 and preventing fluid flow communication with the shaft lumen 104. Finally, at block 1506, applying epoxy 123 to distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 and then inserting the club shaft 102 into the hosel 111 whereby the epoxy 123 is disposed between the hosel 111, the shaft plug 101, and the club shaft 102 such that the distal portion 125 of the club shaft 102 is secured within the hosel 111 of the club head 109.

While a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 20, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in FIG. 20 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. Alternatively, two or more actions depicted may be performed in reversed order. Further, one or more actions depicted in FIG. 20 may not be performed at all. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the shaft plug 101 may be manufactured using a resin material, a polypropylene material, a polyurethane material, or a combination thereof.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:
1. A shaft plug comprising:
an axial shaft member defining a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis defined by the axial shaft member;
a sealing member formed at the distal end of the axial shaft member and extending outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a first internal member, a second internal member, and a third internal member, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members being deformable and having a substantially circular configuration that defines a diameter, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members including a flat surface extending outwardly along the axial shaft member at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the axial shaft member and a tapered surface that extends from the axial shaft member at a non-perpendicular angle;
wherein the diameter of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members decrease with location from the sealing member and the non-perpendicular angle of the tapered surface of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members increases with location from the sealing member; and
the diameter of the first internal member is approximately 0.280 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the first member is approximately 10.8 degrees, the diameter of the second internal member is approximately 0.230 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the second member is approximately 14.0 degrees, and the diameter of the third internal member is approximately 0.180 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the third member is approximately 20.0 degrees.
2. The shaft plug of claim 1, wherein the first internal member is formed between the sealing member and the second internal member, wherein the second internal member is formed between the first internal member and the third internal member, and wherein the third internal member is formed between the second internal member and the proximal end of the axial shaft member.
3. The shaft plug of claim 1, wherein the shaft plug is made from a polypropylene material, a polyurethane material or a combination thereof.
4. A golf club comprising:
a club shaft defining an elongated shaft body having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the club shaft defines a shaft lumen in communication with a lumen opening formed at an end of the distal portion of the elongated shaft body;
a hosel sleeve engaged to the distal portion of the club shaft, wherein the hosel sleeve defines a sleeve recess configured to receive the distal portion of the elongated shaft body; and
a shaft plug configured to engage the shaft lumen of the club shaft, the shaft plug comprising;
an axial shaft member defining a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis defined by the axial shaft member;
a sealing member formed at the distal end of the axial shaft member and extending outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a first internal member, a second internal member, and a third internal member, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members being deformable and having a substantially circular configuration that defines a diameter, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members including a flat surface extending outwardly along the axial shaft member at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the axial shaft member and a tapered surface that extends from the axial shaft member at a non-perpendicular angle;
wherein the diameter of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members decrease with location from the sealing member and the non-perpendicular angle of the tapered surface of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members increases with location from the sealing member; and
the diameter of the first internal member is approximately 0.280 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the first member is approximately 10.8 degrees, the diameter of the second internal member is approximately 0.230 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the second member is approximately 14.0 degrees, and the diameter of the third internal member is approximately 0.180 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the third member is approximately 20.0 degrees.
5. The golf club of claim 4, further comprising:
a club head engaged to the hosel sleeve, the club head defining a face, a back, a top, a sole and a hosel, wherein the hosel is configured to receive the hosel sleeve therein.
6. The golf club of claim 4, further comprising:
a club head engaged to the hosel sleeve, the club head defining a face, a back, a top, a sole and a hosel, wherein the hosel is configured to receive the hosel sleeve therein; and
an epoxy disposed within a space defined between the hosel sleeve, the club shaft and the shaft plug.
7. The golf club of claim 4, further comprising:
a club head engaged to the hosel sleeve, the club head defining a face, a back, a top, a sole and a hosel, wherein the hosel is configured to receive the hosel sleeve therein; and
an epoxy disposed within a space defined between the hosel sleeve, the club shaft and the shaft plug,
wherein the shaft plug is configured to substantially seal off the lumen opening when engaged to the shaft lumen such that the epoxy within the space is prevented from entering the shaft lumen.
8. The golf club of claim 4, wherein the sealing member is configured to seal off the shaft lumen of the club shaft when the shaft plug is engaged to the shaft lumen to prevent entry of an epoxy that coats the distal portion of the club shaft.
9. A method to manufacture a golf club comprising:
forming club shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the club shaft defines a shaft lumen in communication with a lumen opening formed at an end of the distal portion;
forming a hosel sleeve engaged to the distal portion of the club shaft, wherein the hosel sleeve defines a sleeve recess configured to receive the distal portion of the club shaft; and
forming a shaft plug including:
an axial shaft member defining a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis defined by the axial shaft member;
a sealing member formed at the distal end of the axial shaft member and extending outwardly at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a first internal member, a second internal member, and a third internal member, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members being deformable and having a substantially circular configuration that defines a diameter, each of the first, the second, and the third internal members including a flat surface extending outwardly along the axial shaft member at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the axial shaft member and a tapered surface that extends from the axial shaft member at a non-perpendicular angle;
wherein the diameter of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members decreases with location from the sealing member and the non-perpendicular angle of the tapered surface of each of the first, the second, and the third internal members increases with location from the sealing member; and
the diameter of the first internal member is approximately 0.280 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the first member is approximately 10.8 degrees, the diameter of the second internal member is approximately 0.230 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the second member is approximately 14.0 degrees, and the diameter of the third internal member is approximately 0.180 inches and the non-perpendicular angle of the third member is approximately 20.0 degrees;
engaging the shaft plug to the shaft lumen such that the shaft plug substantially seals off the lumen opening;
applying epoxy to the distal portion of the club shaft; and
engaging the distal portion of the club shaft within the hosel sleeve such that the epoxy is prevented from entering the shaft lumen.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein engaging the shaft plug to the shaft lumen includes sealing off the lumen opening by the sealing member to disrupt fluid flow communication between the shaft lumen and the epoxy.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein engaging the shaft plug to the shaft lumen comprises deforming at least one of the first, the second, and the third internal members.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein engaging the shaft plug to the shaft lumen comprises deforming the at least one of the first, the second, and the third internal members such that fluid flow communication through the shaft lumen is prevented.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the shaft plug comprises forming the first internal member between the sealing member and the second internal member, and wherein the first sealing member is deformable.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the shaft plug comprises forming the shaft plug from a polypropylene material, a polyurethane material, or a combination thereof.
US13/828,697 2013-03-14 2013-03-14 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs Active 2033-06-13 US9216325B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/828,697 US9216325B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2013-03-14 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/828,697 US9216325B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2013-03-14 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
TW103109135A TWI522144B (en) 2013-03-14 2014-03-13 A method of manufacturing a golf club shaft and a golf club of the plug
CN201410096610.6A CN104043234A (en) 2013-03-14 2014-03-14 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US14/943,514 US9895580B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-11-17 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/943,514 Continuation US9895580B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-11-17 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20140274447A1 US20140274447A1 (en) 2014-09-18
US9216325B2 true US9216325B2 (en) 2015-12-22

Family

ID=51496938

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/828,697 Active 2033-06-13 US9216325B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2013-03-14 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US14/943,514 Active US9895580B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-11-17 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/943,514 Active US9895580B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-11-17 Shaft plugs for golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US9216325B2 (en)
CN (1) CN104043234A (en)
TW (1) TWI522144B (en)

Citations (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US729835A (en) * 1902-10-03 1903-06-02 George S Barnes Bottle-stopper.
US2020679A (en) 1933-08-19 1935-11-12 Clifton Ltd Golf club
US2121387A (en) 1934-07-24 1938-06-21 Fred C Houser Golf club
US2196785A (en) * 1936-10-13 1940-04-09 Takiguchi Ei Rubber stopper for bottles, jars, vessels, and like containers
US2746632A (en) * 1953-11-27 1956-05-22 Aladdin Ind Inc Flexible bottle closure
US3269581A (en) * 1965-04-05 1966-08-30 Joints Inc Pipe stopper plug
US3471179A (en) * 1967-12-26 1969-10-07 Advanced Drainage Syst Adapter
US3578027A (en) * 1969-07-30 1971-05-11 William L Zopfi Sealing plugs or closures
US3625513A (en) * 1968-08-02 1971-12-07 Brunswick Corp Head-to-shaft connection for golf club
US3800791A (en) * 1973-05-15 1974-04-02 Flents Prod Co Inc Adjustable ear plug
US4402641A (en) * 1980-04-17 1983-09-06 Itw Ateco Gmbh Self centering fastener
US5374062A (en) 1993-11-09 1994-12-20 Kochevar; Rudolph J. Swing weight with locking feature and golf club and method utilizing the same
US5437450A (en) * 1993-08-31 1995-08-01 Somar Corporation Golf club shaft and process of preparing same
US5540435A (en) 1991-09-25 1996-07-30 Kawasaki; Jiro Golf clubs
US5653645A (en) 1995-06-19 1997-08-05 Baumann; Peter Golf club putter
US5709614A (en) 1995-09-07 1998-01-20 The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Golf club head and method of manufacturing the same
US5720671A (en) 1996-09-05 1998-02-24 Harrison Sports, Inc. Composite golf club shaft and method of making the same
US5820483A (en) 1997-01-13 1998-10-13 Callaway Golf Company Reduced weight golf club shafts
US6032695A (en) * 1997-12-02 2000-03-07 Premier Marine, Inc. Rail plug
US6360779B1 (en) * 2001-04-11 2002-03-26 Aqueduct Utility Pipe Contractor, Inc. Closure device for a pipe/wall aperture
US20020077193A1 (en) 2000-12-20 2002-06-20 Hitoshi Takeda Golf club and golf club head
US6494463B1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-12-17 Kurt J. Rank Plug for sealing more than one size of hole
US20030207720A1 (en) * 2002-05-03 2003-11-06 Joseph Sery Swing weight plug and method for manufacturing a golf club having a pre-selected swing weight
US6884179B2 (en) 2001-06-13 2005-04-26 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club and method for making it
US20050096148A1 (en) 2003-10-31 2005-05-05 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club head with shaft locating device
US6890269B2 (en) 2002-07-24 2005-05-10 Burrows Golf, Llc Temporary golf club shaft-component connection
US6997819B2 (en) 2004-01-27 2006-02-14 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club and method of manufacturing
TWM289145U (en) 2005-09-23 2006-04-01 Ruei-Sung Huang Improved structure of bottle stopper
US7108618B2 (en) 2003-11-19 2006-09-19 Frischmon Timm J Apparatus and method for repairing a hockey stick shaft
US20060254660A1 (en) * 2005-05-12 2006-11-16 Mcilwain Russell L Method and apparatus for temporarily stopping the flow in a live fluid carrying pipe
US7225836B2 (en) * 2005-04-11 2007-06-05 William Field Pipe plug
US7335113B2 (en) * 2004-11-17 2008-02-26 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with interchangeable head-shaft connection
USD570966S1 (en) * 2006-05-05 2008-06-10 Gilligan Steven R Hole cover
US20080141574A1 (en) * 2006-12-15 2008-06-19 Dustin Paul Jones Color-coded identification plug
US7490629B2 (en) * 2006-09-14 2009-02-17 Linda Williams Plug kit
US20100255927A1 (en) * 2008-10-02 2010-10-07 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with interchangeable head-shaft connection, components therefor, and a method of manufacturing
US7819754B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2010-10-26 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with removable components
US7892107B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2011-02-22 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Shaft cap associated with golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US20110084045A1 (en) 2009-10-09 2011-04-14 Brian Austin Self Closure and method of using same
US8133132B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2012-03-13 Sri Sports Limited Golf club
US20140175100A1 (en) * 2012-07-17 2014-06-26 Forespar Products Corp. Configurable plug to stop or slow the flow of a fluid or gas or flowable material either inward or outward through an opening
US8763831B2 (en) * 2009-12-23 2014-07-01 Daniel L. Garcia Reuseable bottle cap having identification means
US8833398B2 (en) * 2011-01-30 2014-09-16 Clean Planet Mfg. & Labs, Inc. Environmentally-friendly hose plug

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2669370A (en) * 1950-07-28 1954-02-16 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Rubber stopper
DE3915268C1 (en) * 1989-05-10 1990-12-20 Rehau Ag + Co, 8673 Rehau, De Fluid container sealing plug - has flexible body of cylindrical form, with ring flange and sealing lips
CN2364926Y (en) * 1999-02-05 2000-02-23 黄堂浩 Airtight plug sleeve of hollow head for golf club
JP2003225333A (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-08-12 ▲そ▼ 文正 Dynamic balance retaining mechanism for golf club
NL1023688C2 (en) * 2003-06-18 2004-12-21 Beele Eng Bv A system for sealing a space between an inner wall of a tubular opening and at least one at least partly received in the opening tube or duct whose axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the opening.
CN201076605Y (en) * 2007-06-15 2008-06-25 山东省药用玻璃股份有限公司 Thermoplastic sealing rubber plug
JP5189371B2 (en) * 2007-12-13 2013-04-24 ダンロップスポーツ株式会社 Golf club
CN201168393Y (en) * 2008-03-19 2008-12-24 明安国际企业股份有限公司 Rod-changing joint structure of golf rod
US9320947B2 (en) * 2010-09-22 2016-04-26 Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. Golf club
CN201962809U (en) * 2010-11-29 2011-09-07 宿迁华夏建设(集团)工程有限公司 Choke plug for preventing water seepage of concrete wall and column pore canal
CN202954779U (en) * 2012-10-11 2013-05-29 天津德瑞克石油工具有限公司 Novel flexible plug

Patent Citations (47)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US729835A (en) * 1902-10-03 1903-06-02 George S Barnes Bottle-stopper.
US2020679A (en) 1933-08-19 1935-11-12 Clifton Ltd Golf club
US2121387A (en) 1934-07-24 1938-06-21 Fred C Houser Golf club
US2196785A (en) * 1936-10-13 1940-04-09 Takiguchi Ei Rubber stopper for bottles, jars, vessels, and like containers
US2746632A (en) * 1953-11-27 1956-05-22 Aladdin Ind Inc Flexible bottle closure
US3269581A (en) * 1965-04-05 1966-08-30 Joints Inc Pipe stopper plug
US3471179A (en) * 1967-12-26 1969-10-07 Advanced Drainage Syst Adapter
US3625513A (en) * 1968-08-02 1971-12-07 Brunswick Corp Head-to-shaft connection for golf club
US3578027A (en) * 1969-07-30 1971-05-11 William L Zopfi Sealing plugs or closures
US3800791A (en) * 1973-05-15 1974-04-02 Flents Prod Co Inc Adjustable ear plug
US4402641A (en) * 1980-04-17 1983-09-06 Itw Ateco Gmbh Self centering fastener
US5540435A (en) 1991-09-25 1996-07-30 Kawasaki; Jiro Golf clubs
US5437450A (en) * 1993-08-31 1995-08-01 Somar Corporation Golf club shaft and process of preparing same
US5374062A (en) 1993-11-09 1994-12-20 Kochevar; Rudolph J. Swing weight with locking feature and golf club and method utilizing the same
US5653645A (en) 1995-06-19 1997-08-05 Baumann; Peter Golf club putter
US5709614A (en) 1995-09-07 1998-01-20 The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Golf club head and method of manufacturing the same
US5720671A (en) 1996-09-05 1998-02-24 Harrison Sports, Inc. Composite golf club shaft and method of making the same
US5820483A (en) 1997-01-13 1998-10-13 Callaway Golf Company Reduced weight golf club shafts
US6183233B1 (en) * 1997-01-13 2001-02-06 Callaway Golf Company Apparatus for manufacturing golf club shafts
US6032695A (en) * 1997-12-02 2000-03-07 Premier Marine, Inc. Rail plug
US6494463B1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-12-17 Kurt J. Rank Plug for sealing more than one size of hole
US20020077193A1 (en) 2000-12-20 2002-06-20 Hitoshi Takeda Golf club and golf club head
US6360779B1 (en) * 2001-04-11 2002-03-26 Aqueduct Utility Pipe Contractor, Inc. Closure device for a pipe/wall aperture
US6884179B2 (en) 2001-06-13 2005-04-26 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Golf club and method for making it
US20030207720A1 (en) * 2002-05-03 2003-11-06 Joseph Sery Swing weight plug and method for manufacturing a golf club having a pre-selected swing weight
US6890269B2 (en) 2002-07-24 2005-05-10 Burrows Golf, Llc Temporary golf club shaft-component connection
US20050096148A1 (en) 2003-10-31 2005-05-05 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club head with shaft locating device
US7108618B2 (en) 2003-11-19 2006-09-19 Frischmon Timm J Apparatus and method for repairing a hockey stick shaft
US20060293128A1 (en) 2003-11-19 2006-12-28 Frischmon Timm J Apparatus and method for repairing a hockey stick shaft
US6997819B2 (en) 2004-01-27 2006-02-14 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Golf club and method of manufacturing
US7335113B2 (en) * 2004-11-17 2008-02-26 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with interchangeable head-shaft connection
US7225836B2 (en) * 2005-04-11 2007-06-05 William Field Pipe plug
US20060254660A1 (en) * 2005-05-12 2006-11-16 Mcilwain Russell L Method and apparatus for temporarily stopping the flow in a live fluid carrying pipe
TWM289145U (en) 2005-09-23 2006-04-01 Ruei-Sung Huang Improved structure of bottle stopper
USD570966S1 (en) * 2006-05-05 2008-06-10 Gilligan Steven R Hole cover
US7490629B2 (en) * 2006-09-14 2009-02-17 Linda Williams Plug kit
US20080141574A1 (en) * 2006-12-15 2008-06-19 Dustin Paul Jones Color-coded identification plug
US8167735B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2012-05-01 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with removable components
US7819754B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2010-10-26 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with removable components
US7892107B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2011-02-22 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Shaft cap associated with golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US8167736B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2012-05-01 Karsten Manufacturing Corporation Shaft cap associated with golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US8133132B2 (en) 2008-06-26 2012-03-13 Sri Sports Limited Golf club
US20100255927A1 (en) * 2008-10-02 2010-10-07 Callaway Golf Company Golf club with interchangeable head-shaft connection, components therefor, and a method of manufacturing
US20110084045A1 (en) 2009-10-09 2011-04-14 Brian Austin Self Closure and method of using same
US8763831B2 (en) * 2009-12-23 2014-07-01 Daniel L. Garcia Reuseable bottle cap having identification means
US8833398B2 (en) * 2011-01-30 2014-09-16 Clean Planet Mfg. & Labs, Inc. Environmentally-friendly hose plug
US20140175100A1 (en) * 2012-07-17 2014-06-26 Forespar Products Corp. Configurable plug to stop or slow the flow of a fluid or gas or flowable material either inward or outward through an opening

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US9895580B2 (en) 2018-02-20
CN104043234A (en) 2014-09-17
TWI522144B (en) 2016-02-21
US20140274447A1 (en) 2014-09-18
TW201507761A (en) 2015-03-01
US20160067557A1 (en) 2016-03-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7883430B2 (en) Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
AU2008296600B2 (en) Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
USD567891S1 (en) Golf club head
JP4587231B2 (en) Golf club
USD594521S1 (en) Golf club head
USD618753S1 (en) Golf club head
US8926449B2 (en) Golf club head
US7351161B2 (en) Scientifically adaptable driver
USD564055S1 (en) Sole for a golf club head
USD594520S1 (en) Golf club head
US8500571B2 (en) Side locking adjustable shaft connection systems for removably connecting a golf club head and shaft
US9737767B2 (en) Adjustable connector
US6769994B2 (en) Shot control hosel
CA2608844C (en) Methods and apparatus for interchangeably coupling golf club heads and shafts
US20120165111A1 (en) Apparatus for connecting a golf club shaft to a golf club head and golf clubs including the same
TWI484988B (en) Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts
US7201678B2 (en) Sports equipment handle with cushion and grip ribs
EP3015009A1 (en) Electronic cigarette convenient for filling liquid, manufacturing method, and liquid filling method
US8167736B2 (en) Shaft cap associated with golf clubs and methods to manufacture golf clubs
US8628430B2 (en) Golf club, head of golf club and method for adjusting properties of golf club
US20110070558A1 (en) Dental implant fixture
JP2009545392A (en) Compatibility Head - golf head comprising a shaft connecting structure
US8562453B2 (en) Golf club
US8585511B2 (en) Golf club head and golf club
USD746927S1 (en) Golf club head

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, ARIZONA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VALD'VIA, GIL;GUNSHINAN, FRANK;REEL/FRAME:030017/0751

Effective date: 20130314

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4